Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush has successfully landed after going on a celebratory skydive at his family's seaside retreat in Maine to mark his 90th birthday.

Today's jump was his eighth time parachuting out of an airplane, and the former Republican leader made sure to show his national pride with a patriotic parachute.

The 41st president has been joined by friends and relatives, including his son former President George W. Bush and granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager, who watched proudly during his milestone jump.

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Up and away: Bush had a crowd of hundreds gathered by his estate in Maine for the occasion, but he was the only one to hit the skies (with the help of a tandem partner)

Grounded: George H.W. Bush landed safely after going for his eighth skydive with the help of a retired member of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team

Rough landing: The 90-year-old came down in one piece but appears to have had a bit of a shock

Ready for the jump: Jenna Bush Hager was by her grandfather's side when he prepared to board the plane on Thursday

Playful: The 41st president showed that his sense of fun is still intact on his 90th birthday

Jim McGrath, who worked as George HW
Bush's spokesperson while in office, was on the ground in Kennebunkport
when the newly-minted nonagenarian touched down.

Mr McGrath said that Bush felt 'great, exhilarated' after the skydive in spite of the 'hot' landing.

This wasn't be the first time he showed
his daredevil side, but it definitely comes under different
circumstances than his first. The Republican leader first jumped out of a
plane during World War II when his plane was shot down above the
island of Chi Chi Jima in the Pacific in September 1944.

Today's tandem jump was confirmed by his granddaughter who shared a photo of balloons and a telling caption on her Twitter account this morning.

Her father, the fellow former President, posted a photo of the grounds of his parent's seaside retreat in Maine on Wednesday night, writing that he was 'in Maine to celebrate 41's 90th birthday tomorrow'.

Happy landing: Barbara Bush was the first to kiss her husband when he landed

Hugs all around: George W Bush posted this photo of himself and his father, writing 'Thank God for this man... and thanks to the All Veteran Parachute Team for a safe landing'

Welcome back: Barbara Bush kissed her husband of 69 years after he landed Thursday morning

Checking in: Bush reportedly told friends that it was a 'hot' landing

More than 200 relatives and friends, including some from his days in the White House, are included on the guest list for a private dinner in his honour this evening, a family spokesman said.

The 41st president, who lives in Houston,
has spent every summer at the three-story, stone-and-shingle home in
Maine since he was a boy, except when he was a naval aviator during the Second World War.

Former press secretary Marlin Fitzwater,
White House counsel Boyden Gray and political director Ron Kaufman are
among the guests, said spokesman Jim McGrath.

His children, including former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, will also be there, McGrath said.

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During
his presidential years, Bush was known for jogging, tennis and
fast-paced golf but now uses a wheelchair because of a form of
Parkinson's disease.

'He's
lost his mobility, but he hasn't lost his heart. He's still the genuine
person that we've come to cherish,' said Ken Raynor, a friend and pro at
the Cape Arundel Golf Club.

Happy crowd: George W Bush posted this photo of his wife Laura and their granddaughter Mila waiting for 'her great-grandfather' to touch down

Bringing the band back together: His son, former President George W Bush, was joined by his wife Barbara and granddaughter Jenna at the launch site and George W Bush's former speechwriter was there to share the photo

Eighth time up: The eldest Bush celebrated his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays in a similar fashion

THE TEN LONGEST-LIVING PRESIDENTS IN U.S. HISTORY

Gerald Ford: 93 years, 165 days - died December 26, 2006

Ronald Reagan: 93 years, 120 days - died June 5, 2004

John Adams: 90 years, 247 days - died July 4, 1826

Herbert Hoover: 90 years, 71 days - died Oct. 20, 1964

George H.W. Bush: 90 years, 0 days

Jimmy Carter: 89 years, 254 days

Harry Truman: 88 years, 232 days - died Dec 26, 1972

James Madison: 85 years, 104 days - died June 28, 1836

Thomas Jefferson: 83 years, 82 days - died July 4, 1826

Richard Nixon: 81 years, 103 days - died April 22, 1994

On Sunday, former first lady Barbara Bush
was celebrating her 89th birthday with a low-key private dinner with
relatives in Kennebunkport.

During the war, Bush bailed out of his airplane over the Pacific. Later, he decided to jump from a plane of his own accord and marked his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays by skydiving.

While his activities are now limited, Bush still enjoys taking out his boat, Fidelity.